Yes, today I got my first WBN book! And I got it in such a lovely way, I wanted to share... A very nice lady dressed in bright strawberry red breezed in through the door and straight up to the counter, where she told me that she was 'part of World Book Night' and presented me with a copy of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. She told me a little bit about the book, about how she'd given away all of her copies in an hour, and about what she'd written on her giver application form to get her box of goodies in the first place. I have to say, I like this year's editions even more than last year's! They have glossy burgundy spines (last year it was navy), and this one has the posh Penguin cover set into the front, and Shakespeare's Sonnet 34 printed inside the back cover.
Now, this was all very nice in itself: my first WBN book - one I really wanted to read - being given to me by someone who evidently adored it and was passionate about passing it on. But then she told me WHY she was giving me the book. Apparently she'd been here before while on holiday in the area, and loved our little shop. Loved it so much, in fact, that knowing she'd be coming again, she'd saved her last copy and brought it all the way from South Wales to give to me!
She looked quite relieved that I'd not read it yet but evidently wanted to - if I'd already been a Two Cities enthusiast she said she'd still have given it to me, to pass it onto someone else here. Mum will probably read it after me and we'll both leave comments on the website using the book's unique code (the nice lady asked my name so she could look out for me!), then we'll pass it on again - perhaps by leaving it in the coffee shop over the road for the next person to take away...??
How lovely is that, though? I went all red-faced and told her she'd just made my day, then SHE went red-faced and told me it'd made hers too... Two happy bunnies, one (apparently) brilliant book. Champion. :)
Did you take part in World Book Night 2012? If you gave a book, which did you choose and how did you give them away? And if you received one, which one did you get, and how did it fall into your hands?
This is the first year that I saw a lot of posts about World Book Night, but now I'm in love with the idea! Just signed up for information, I would love to be involved next year!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story! I'm afraid I wasn't nearly as inventive with off loading my supply - mainly to my book group and friends on facebook!
ReplyDeleteI received a book this year! We went to a book signing at a nearby Waterstones last week to see Iain Banks, who coincidentally had an early book of his, The Player of Games, included in this year's WBN books. Someone had tried giving copies away outside a local cinema, with the idea that people who had just watched a sci-fi film might like to read a sci-fi novel, but I don't think they had many takers. So the rest were taken along to the Waterstones' event, to be found good homes. Iain Banks even signed some - mine included - which makes it a very special WBN book!
ReplyDeleteAwww, that was so lovely!!!! Tale of Two Cities is a fantastic book. Read it last year and it's now my favourite Dickens. Best ending I have ever read. Hope you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI went along to a WBN party in my local independent book shop, where they had arranged for some of the local givers to meet up with a limited number of books, so there were five titles being given! I chose "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, and I finished it yesterday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sweet that someone would keep a copy of Tale of Two Cities especially for you!!x
Kate - I have to say, the first year I was a little bit cynical about how it would all work out, but now I think it's fantastic! Hearing how it's having really positive effects has been quite moving, and some of the stories coming from givers and receivers of books have had me in tears. I just wish we'd had more bookish TV again this year - last year's night of documentaries and the TV premiere of 'Brideshead Revisited' meant that even the folks like me WITHOUT an event to go to could have an evening of books and celebration too!
ReplyDeleteJanette - But who knows where they'll go from there! Which book were you giving away?
Mary - I think that's probably something that's underestimated actually: the fact that a receiver may not WANT to pass on the book when they're done. If they've received the book in a particularly special way, or been to an amazing event - or like you, even got their copy signed! - then that experience becomes integral to THAT COPY of the book and I, for one, reckon I might not want to part with mine given how it came to be in my hands!
Karen - That's what the woman said! She said the ending was just amazing, that there was a big twist - something I LOVE in books, having my mind blown at the last hurdle - so I can't wait to read it and find out for myself!
Gemmipop - Did you enjoy it? It's one of my favourite books - the image of the four 'horsemen of the apocalypse' riding around on motorcycles causing havoc is just fantastic! I was very lucky really - I've read or already own 17 of the 25 WBN titles this year, so the fact that the lovely lady came bearing one of the 8 remaining titles (and one I really wanted to read already!) was fantastic!
I didn't EXACTLY get one, but it turns out that the WBN Giver for Pride and Prejudice (you know, that book I have 38 copies of :/) was in Leeds train station 30 minutes after I was. I was so annoyed when I found out. But hey, do you know who did get one? The Lit Addicted Brit, and because she's obviously amazing she immediately thought that I might not have it, so she's posting it to me. I'm so so happy and excited that I get such a limited edition copy for my collection :D
ReplyDeleteThat lady sounds so, so nice though. And what luck it was something you wanted to read anyway!
What an endearing story! Just goes to show that you never know who you or your book shop has positively impacted. I did participate as a World Book Night Giver in the United States. I gave out copies of Peace Like A River by Leif Enger (one of my favorite books). One of the ironies (because World Book Night originated in the UK) was that I handed out a book to a person from the UK who was visiting the US. He said "I've never heard of World Book Night but I'm the sort of bloke to read this book on the plane ride home!"
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely lady! It's things like this that I absolutely love about readers. Bookish people really do seem to be like the BEST kind of people. What a way to brighten up someone's day? Thanks for sharing this Ellie!
ReplyDeleteOh that's lovely, that sort of story makes you realise there are still nice people around. I didn't get WBN book this year, but did get Half of a Yellow Sun, two years ago I think. Still haven't read it though! It's on my reading list.
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